Automatic binding machine



July 24, 1934. C TREMOUROUX 1,967,566

AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 171 ra 17 77: I";

y 24, 1934- c. TREMOUROUX AUTOMATIC BINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented july 24, 1 934 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFlCE Application January 20, 1934, Serial No. 707,593.

1 In Belgium January 21, 1933 13 Claims). ((156-429) The present invention relates to an automatic rather large, the needle must make a movement binding machine for binding bundles of cereals of considerable amplitude in order that itshall and other plants. beable to embrace all the bundles suitably.

Agricultural machines, generally called har- To this end; according to the invention, the

- vester-binders, are known in which a binding pivot of the needleis subjected to a movement 68 mechanism is adapted to be set in motion due towards, and then to a movement away irom to the movement of the machine when a clutch the knotter, while by its pivoting on itself it device, constantly urged towards the engaged causes the needle to approach or move away from position but adapted to be held by a stop in the the knotter, respectively.

' disengaged position, is allowed to occupy the en- An automatic binding machine according to gaged position. In these machines,- the clutch the invention should preferably also be able to device is actuated when the'cereals, which accubind the heaps at dilferent heights according to mulate in the machine as they are mown, exert the lengths of the stalks of the plants.

a sufnclent pressure. It must therefore be possible to adjust the The automatic binding machine according to height of the frame relatively to the carrying 10 the invention is not intended to bind cereals or wheels.

other plants as they are mown, but to bind heaps To this end, the automatic binding machine or shocks of plants formed on the ground. according to the invention comprises a lever The object of the invention is to enable the adapted'to pivot about the shaft of one of the binding mechanism to be set in operation when carrying Wheels and connected to the frame, the 75 the machine encounters heaps situated onthe said lever in addition being adapted to be held ground. in different positions.

To this end, the automatic binding machine Finally, the invention relates to an arrange- I according to the invention comprises in addiment, the object of which is to ensure that the tion a member called a release member which is heap to bebo-und will be driven into the ma- 80 so adapted as to move on the machine meeting chine, despite the resistance offered by the cord a pile of materials to be bound and situated on employed for binding the said heap.

the ground, the said member being connected The machine provided with this arrangement by a mechanical connection to the said stop to comprises a bar provided with points and mountcause the retraction of the latter upon its move ed so as to drive the said points into the heap 85 ment. to be bound, and to cause the said heap to move- In practice, the distance between the heaps forward towards the machine.

formed on the ground varies from one heap to Other features and details of the invention another. will be discussed in the course of the description In order thatthe bindingmechanism may be of the accompanying drawings, which show one 56 driven as soon as the said release member has constructional form of the invention diagrambeen moved by a heap which it encounters, provmatically, merely by way of example.

vision is made according to the invention, in the Figure 1 is an elevation of the entire machine. case in which the said clutch device is constituted Figure 2 is a View in perspective of the part of by a catch-piece constantly urged to come into the machine which serves to vary the distance 45' even in the event of a slight forward movement members.

contact with a toothed member; which is caused of the framefrom the ground.

torotate by the forward movement of the bind- "Figure 3 is a view in perspective partly secing machine, for the said toothed-member to poscloned and partly broken away of the clutch desess, a large number of teeth. In this manner, vice of the binding mechanism and the adjacent of the machine, a tooth will certainly come into Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the binding contact with the catch-piece. mechanism. 1

' The binding mechanism of the machine ac- The drawings show an automatic binding macording to the invention comprises in theknown chine comprising a frame constituted substanmanner a needle keyed to a pivot so as to be subtially by an upright 2 (Figure 1) connected to 195 jected to a pivoting movement which causes it another upright 8 by a cross-member 4-. The to approach and then move away from the upright 2 is rigidly connected to the bearings 5 knotter. In view of the fact that the alignment and 6 of a shaft '7 (Figures 1 and 2) about which of the heaps on the ground may be rather'poor are engaged the endsof twoarmsfla and 8b of practice, and that the heaps-are generally a lever- 8 adapted to pivot aboutthe axle 9 of a carrying wheel 10. The lever 8 may be locked in different angular positions, for example, by the engagement of a stud 11 in one or the other of the notches of a sector 12 rigidly connected to the upright 2. Due to this arrangement, the height of the frame can be adjusted relatively to the carrying wheel 10.

The. upright v3 is supported by a small wheel 71 (Figures land "4),1 the, axle of which is carried by a piece 72 connected to the upright 3 by a screw-threaded sleeve 73. engaged on the upright 3 is in the opposite di- 72. Thus, by rotating the screw-threaded sleeve 73, the height of the upright 3 above ground,

may readily be varied.

The movement of rotationfofxthe axle9 during the forward movement of the machine is transmitted to the shaft '7, for example through the medium of a toothed wheel 13 (Figures 1 and 2) keyedto the shaft ,9, a toothed wheell4-keyed to theshaftfl and achain 15 passinground these two toothed Wheels. Keyed ,t0 the. shaft 7 is likewise anothertoothed wheel 16, the movement of rotation of which is transmitted through the medium of a chainlflto a, toothed wheel; 18 keyedto a shaftl-Q carried by the frame.

. Keyed to the shaft 19 (Figures 1 and 3) is a bevel gear 20 meshing with another bevel gear 21 integral with-a ratchet wheel 22 and mounted idly on a shaft '23, disposed in the upright 2 Keyed to the shaft 23 is a crank 24 rigidly connected, by a bolt 60 for examplato a cam 59 mounted idle on .the tubular portion connecting the bevel gear 21 to the ratchet wheel 22. Th e crank 24 has two projections 24a acting as guide for a catch-piece 25 constantly urged by a spring 26 to come into contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 22, but held out of contact with the said teethwhen a bell-crank lever 27 pivoting at 24b on the crank 24, to which it is connected by a rod 30 to the binding mechanism to be described hereinafter. The rotation ofthe crank 24 by the axle 9 of the carrying wheel thus depends upon the engagement of the catch-piece25 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, 22. This engagement is permitted when the stop 29 is retracted This retraction is caused, when the machine advances in the direction of thearroW X, as the result of a release member constituted for, example by the blade 31 meeting a heap of plants to be bound situated on the ground. Under theaction of this meeting,

the blade 31 (Figures 1 and 3), which Will be called hereinafter the release blade, pivots in the direction of the arrow. 6 with the pivot '32 to whichit is keyed. A nose 33keyed to thepivot 32 drives in the direction of the. arrow Z a chain 34which connects it to the end 3509 (Figure 3) of a bell-crank lever 35 pivoted at 4a. The arm 35b of the bell-crank lever 35 which is engaged by a stirrup 29a rigidlyconnected to the stop 29 effects,- by virtue of this. fact, the retraction of the stop 29 against theactionof a spring 36 which acts so as to-maintain thesaid stop- 29in the position in which the bell-crank lever- 27 abutsagainstit during the rotation of the crank 24 which carries it. Therefora the effect of this spring is likewise that of returning the release blade 31 into the position in which it meets the heaps of material to be bound, as soonas the saidblade 31 has been rendered free. I I 1 1 The binding mechanism comprises a gear 37. (Figures 1 and-4). mounted freely on a shaft 38 engaged in the upright 3 of the frame. I I The point at which the ;r od.30 is connected to the said gear The thread of'thepart" is at a distance from the axis of the latter greater than the length of the crank 24. Thus, on each revolution of the crank 24, the gear 37 makes an oscillatory movement, the amplitude of which is less than one half revolution. The gear 37 meshes with another gear 39 carried by a pivot 40 mounted in the frame. The gear 39 is connected by a rod 41 to an arm 42 keyed to the shaft 38. Keyed to the latter is likewise an ar n 43. Thearms 42 and 43 carrying a pivot 44 to which are keyed at one end a gear 45 meshing with the gear 3'7 and at the other end a needle 46 of any known type.

When the machine is moving forward in the direction of the arrow X, it will be readily appreciated on studying the drawings that the ratchet "wheel 22Will rotate in the direction of the arrow U. If the catch-piece 25 is allowed to come into contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel,

pcintis therefore considerable.

.The pivot 32 to which is keyedthereleaseiblade 31 is, likewise carried'by the arms 42 and 43. T The result of thisis that the end of the nose, 33,;

while being moved away from the bell-crank lever 35, due to the pivoting of the release blade31'in the direction of the arrow Y, is causedto approach slightly the said bell-crank lever due to the pivoting of the arms 42 and 43 in the direction of the arrow B, Thev effect of this double movement is to preventany excessive and unnecessary movementofthestop29.-- I I The release blade 31 .ismounted'resihe ntly on its pivot 32, for example by being itself constituted of a :spring blade. .Thus, when the heap of material to be bound is bulkier than usual, the releaseplate can bend slightly and enable the needle to reach the knotter easily. I

Since the distance between-the heaps on the ground may .vary from' one heap to the next, it is necessary that, irrespective of the distance through which themachine travels and hence irrespective of the angle of rotation of the ratchet wheel 22 from the instant at whichthe release blade 31 has met a heap of material, thelcatcha piece 25 shall be driven by the ratchet wheel. 22.

at the momentat which it is allowedto come into contact with the said ratchet wheel, This is the reason why the ratchet is preferably provided with numerous teeth.

- On approaching the knotter 47 (Figures 1 and 4) ,the needle 46 compresses the heap of material to be bound between the needle itself, a, guide plate 48 and a blade 59 called: the retaining blade tomesh with a bevel gear54 keyed to the shaft of the knotter. I

The retaining blade 51 is. keyed to apivot 54 carried by the frame.- The said pivot carries an arm 55 connected by a rod 56 to a lever '57 (Figures 3 and 4) pivoted at 417. to the framawhiclf the arm 57a carries a roller 58 bearing against the cam 59which is driven at the same time as the binding mechanism. The cam 59 has a recess 59c so disposedv as to permit the lever 57 to pivot in the direction of the arrow '1 after the bundle has been bound. This pivoting of the lever 57 enables the rod 56 to'move in the direction of the arrow K and the retaining blade to pivot in the direction of the arrow L. When the bundle has been bound, it is therefore left on the ground.

The part or" the cord 51 which passes directly from the knotter to theendof the needle 46 tends to impede the engagement of the heap of material to be bound in the machine. In' order to ensure this engagement, the machine comprises a bar 61 (Figure 4) provided with points 62 and subjected to a movement towards the interior of the machine after the points have been driven into the heap of materials. The said bar is rigidly connected with a rod 63 keyed to a pivoting arm. 64, the movements of which are con trolled by a rod connected to the crank 24. The length or" the arm 64 is greater than that of the crank 24.

In order to prevent a movement of the'bar 61 beyond the guide plate 48, a slot 65a is provided in the rod 55. The said slot is engaged by a stud 640: by which the rod drives the arm 64. When the rod 65 begins to movein the direction opposite to that causing the engagement of the points 62 in the heap tobe bound, the bar 61 remains stationary during the'whole of the time that the slot 65a slides about the pin 64a. The points 62 are only disengaged from the bundle whichhas-just been bound when the end of the slot adjacent the crank 24 abuts against the pin 64a. 7

Keyed to the shaft 23 is an arm (Figures 1 and 4) which is so disposed as to cause the disengagement of the bundle to the exterior of.

the machine when it has been bound and the retaining blade 59 leaves it on the ground. The bundle on leaving the machine is guided laterally by the extension 50a of the retaining blade 50.

It is evident that the invention is not limited exclusively to the constructional form shown and that modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements employed in its construction without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels or" the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, and a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap. I

2. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release'member adapted tobe moved by its meeting with a heap of'materials to be bound situated on the ground, a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap, and a spring for constantly urging the said movable stop into the position which it is capable of maintaining the said clutch device in the disengagement position.

'-3. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement or" the carrying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movablestop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, means for resiliently mounting the said release member, and a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such thatit causes the retraction of the latter when the re lease member is moved by a heap.

4. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the car rying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member constituted by a spring and adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, and a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap.

5. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, a ratchet wheel with a large number of teeth rotated by the forward movement of the binding machine, a catch-piece mounted ona part connected to the binding mechanism, means for constantly urging the said catch-piece toward the said teeth, a movable stop adapted to hold the said catch-piece in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, and 'a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap.

6. An automatic binding machine, comprising a knotter, a needle for cooperating with this knotter, a pivot carrying this needle, means for actuating this pivot, in order that the needle be moved towards and then away from the knotter, means for displacing the said pivot towards and away from the knotter while by pivoting on itself it causes the needle to approach or move away from the knotter respectively, means for actuating the needle and the knotter by the movement of the carrying wheels of the machine, a clutch device between, on the one hand, the needle and the knotter and, on the other hand, the carrying wheels,-means for constantly urging said clutch iii) able stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground and a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap.

.7. An automatic binding machine, comprising a knotter, a needle for cooperating with this knotter, a pivot carrying this needle, pivoting arms carrying this pivot, a shaft carrying these arms, an oscillating gear loosely mounted on this shaft, a second gear meshing with the said oscillating gear, a rod connecting this second gear with one of the said arms, a third gear keyed on the pivot of the needle and meshing with the first gear, a connecting rod between the said oscillating gear and a crank, the distance between the axis of the said oscillating gear and the point at which the connecting rod is connected being greater than the length of the crank, means for actuating the said crank by the movement of the carrying wheels of the machine, a clutch device between the said crank and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, and a mechanical connection between the saidrelease member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release memberis moved by a heap.

8. An automatic binding machine, comprising a knotter, a needle for cooperating with this knotter, a pivot carrying this needle, pivoting arms carrying this pivot, a shaft carrying these arms,

an oscillating gear loosely mounted on this shaft,

asecond gear meshing with the said oscillating gear, a rod connecting this second gear with one of the said arms, a third gear keyed on the ivot of the needle and meshing with the first gear, a connecting rod between the said oscillating gear and a crank, the distance between the axis of; the said oscillating gear and the point which the connecting rod is connected being greater than the length of the crank, means foractuating the said crank by the movement of the carrying wheels of the machine, a. clutch device between the said crank and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging the said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a pivoting blade adapted to be met by a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, a pivot carrying this blade supported by the said arms, a nose keyed on this pivot, and a mechanical connection between the said nose and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the said blade is moved by a heap.

9. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism'and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urg-. ing said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position,

device towards the engagement position, a.m0v-

a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, a' mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causesthe retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap, a pivoting arm disposed so as to cause the disengagement of the bundle to the exterior of the machine when it has been bound, a pivot for carrying this arm, and means for actuating this pivot simultaneously with the binding mechanism.

10. An automatic binding machine comprising.

a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by. a heap, a lever pivoting about the axle of one of the carrying. wheels, means for connecting this lever to the frame in different positions. so as to modify the height of the machine.

11. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meet ing with a heap of materials to be bound'situated on the ground, a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap, a pivoting bar at the height of theheap to be bound, points on this bar, and means for actuating this bar simultaneously with the binding mechanisms in such a manner that the said points are driven in the said heap and move the latter forward towards the machine.

12. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels of" the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter whenthe release member is moved by a heap, a pivoting bar at the height of the heap to be bound, points on this bar, a pivoting arm integral with the said bar, a rod connected to the said pivoting arm and to a crank, and means for displacing this crank simultaneously with the binding mechanism, the said bar being disposed in such a manner that the said points are driven in the said heap and move the latter forward towards the machine.

13. An automatic binding machine comprising a binding mechanism, means for actuating this binding mechanism by the movement of the carrying wheels of the binding machine, a clutch device between the binding mechanism and the said carrying wheels, means for constantly urging said clutch device towards the engagement position, a movable stop adapted to hold the said clutch device in the disengagement position, a release member adapted to be moved by its meeting with a heap of materials to be bound situated on the ground, a mechanical connection between the said release member and the said movable stop such that it causes the retraction of the latter when the release member is moved by a heap, a pivoting bar at the height of the heap to be bound, points on this bar, a pivoting arm integral with the said bar, a stud integral with the bar, a slot for receiving this stud provided in a rod, a crank to which this rod is connected, and means for displacing this crank simultaneously with the binding mechanism, the said bar being disposed in such a manner that said points are driven in the said heap and move the latter forward towards the machine.

CHARLES TREMOUROUX. 

